11.23.2010

About four years ago I purchased a sewing machine and started a new tradition - the tradition of the Thanksgiving Debut - which is basically exactly what it sounds like. Around the holidays I work on a new project and bring to it Thanksgiving dinner for its "debut." The first two years I "debuted" dresses that I sewed for myself by wearing them to dinner. Last year, still in a post-partum haze, I decided that bringing my six month old would count as a "debut" (after all, I did make her!). This year, I've decided to debut a dress for Baby O (much more manageable nowadays than a dress for me).

Behold...this year's dress.

The Front...

...And The Back

Made with the pattern for the Ice Cream Social Dress by Oliver and S. (Any mistakes in this dress - and they are definitely there - are all of my own making, not caused by this amazing pattern company).

11.21.2010

This morning we had a play date with a mom's group that I joined back when Baby O was just this tiny.

Please note the receding hairline.
It's awesome to be an infant.

Usually I leave these play groups feeling like a lame-o parent after hearing all the activities that the moms do with their kids and all the places that they take them. Today, though, I just left feeling like I live in a pit filled with crap.

People (who obviously don't know me very well) always comment that I'm so "domestic" because I cook (occasionally) and sew (occasionally). My dirty little secret though is that my house is an absolute disaster area and it drives me nuts. Today I left inspired to at least start getting rid of all the stuff around the house that we don't need or use. I wrangled my husband into the task while Baby O slept and we filled the entire trunk with stuff to give away.

It feels so good to get rid of this stuff and to know that it's going to somebody who will at least have a use for all this crap (I mean, stuff).

11.17.2010

*A special thanks to my husband who pointed out to me before I started all the embroidery that I spelled "soliciting" wrong. I'm not quite sure what "solititing" is, but I'm guessing that the sign wouldn't have the same effect.

11.11.2010

Six months ago I ran over my finger with the rotary cutter.
I cannot even begin to tell you how disgusting that was (and how much I screamed when it happened). Honestly, it didn't hurt that much but the sight of the blood that WOULD NOT STOP COMING kind of freaked me out.

On a far less gruesome note, four months ago I ran over a straight pin with my serger blade. I had always heard that this was a no-no, but I thought that real damage would only be done after repeatedly making this mistake. I've come to the conclusion though that apparently one time is enough. Ever since running over that tiny little pin my serger has not worked the same. I've fiddled with the dials thinking that perhaps the tension was off, but recently when I tried to serge something the blade didn't cut any of the fabric off and instead just folded it over and made a hideous looking edge. It's time to accept that I need to break out the manual and learn how to replace the blades. Damn that pin!

Quilting has led me to develop a new found respect for something that perhaps doesn't get a whole lot of respect - the triangle. It's an amazing little shape.

Turn a couple triangles this way and you have a square.

Turn a couple triangles that way and you have a diamond.

Spin them around a bit and behold, you have a pinwheel block (or lots of pinwheel blocks)

And that's how the triangles will stay.

I'm in the midst of making a pinwheel quilt...finished size yet to be determined. Not a whole lot of planning went into this quilt. I'm going to see how many blocks I get from the 7 fat quarters that I had, see what size sashing looks best with the blocks and go from there. Of course, I could have calculated this all beforehand but that would have required a little thing that I like to call effort...and that is something that is in short supply around here nowadays.

Welcome

Hello!

I’m Carolyn – a thirty-something gal who tries her best to make stuff while chasing after two kids. There are some definite bumps along the road…followed by much cussing. Is it bad when your child says sh*t?